Effect of Fe3P addition on magnetic properties and microstructure of injection molded iron

Phosphorus powder was used to improve the performance of iron based alloy products fabricated by metal injection molding. Seven kinds of Fe-xP soft magnetic alloys were formed using carbonyl iron powder and Phosphorus powder as raw materials where x=0-1.2 wt% with 0.2 wt% increment. Samples were sintered in hydrogen atmosphere at the temperature range of 1100-1450 °C for varied times. The effects of sintering temperature and time on the density, microstructure and magnetic properties like magnetic induction, maximum permeability and coercive force of the alloys were examined. The results demonstrated that better magnetic performances of the injection molded Fe-xP alloy is due to increased density of the sintered compacts because of formation of liquid phase at low temperature. For Fe-0.8%P alloy, optimum density 7.84 g/cm3 (relative density 99%) and magnetic induction (B6000) 1.77 T, maximum permeability 17,100 were obtained at sintering temperature 1420 °C while the coercive force was 21 A/m respectively.